River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-04-07
THE BASILISK.
A STORY OF TODAY.
CHAPTER XXI.
EXPECTATIONS.

EXPECTATIONS.
At the very moment Of his downfall,
while he was actually at last in the
hands of the Belgian police, to whom,
in Common with the force in most
European countries, his capture had
for long time been sort of day
dream-at the time when he evidently
considered that the game was up,
Plowitz enjoyed over one Of his enemies,
at least, the triumph of complete re-
venge. Through ali the manifest
tokens of his discontinue and fear. it
was evident that he not only appre
ciated, but even enjoyed, my terrified
anxiety for Mary, my fury with HIM
self.
l die not realise to the fun the
strength of his position until l had had
a conference on the subject with the
police authorities. The chief official
was exceedingly courteous and sym
pathetic. Plowitz was calmly defiant,
and spoke throughout of Mary in
tone of proprietorship which did not
tend to promote any judicial calmness
Of demeanour in me. He did not, rs |
mad partly expected. refuse to say any
thing at all on the subject. On the con-
trary, he stated that 1 had no
eight whatever to question his conduct
and no locus standi whatever in the
affair. The lady had been confded to
his safe conduct by her guardian, Mr.
BeaufOy, a rich and influential English
gentleman. He had fulfilled his trust,
and placed the lady in safe keeping.
When any proofs of foul play came to
light the police would be able to act
without any prompting from al ex-
cited outsider. If their help should be
claimed by Mr.. Beaufoy, or any IF tile
lady's relatives, he would be happy TO
give them any information. In the
meantime he protested against this
offensive interference with his private
affairs, and must decline to say any
thing more on the subject.
The authorities were quite prepared
10 believe any evil of their prisoner, but
they were equally impressed, l could
see, with the logical weakness of my
position. Taking what comfort could
with me from a general promise to
keep watch over my interests, l de-
parted with a heavy heart in company
with Shaw.
Come" said my good friend,
"never despair. You couldn't exactly
expect our friend to play into our
hands after all, and give up the only
source of power that remains with him.
But don't believe in mysterious dis
appearances. We shall certainly be
able to trace Miss Fortescue.
IcOuld not take hopeful view of
the case. l had all along, foolishly
enough. imagined that when Plowitz
was found Mary would be found, and
the disappointment was as great as the
latent hope had been.
At this moment, Harper. Inspector
ROsebush's agent, who had remained
behind at the police-station, caught US
up.
"By-the-by," said Shaw suddeHly. 81
suppose Miss Fortescue is not at the
house to which we We're going, when
Plowitz saved us the trouble by meeting
usPi
NO" said Harper; 81 enquired. No
lady had been there"
"But you can trace their movements
from landlng?"
"Yes, sir. That's just what I'm
about doing"
Shaw was now urgent that we
should leave this part of the enquiry
for the present in the hands of pro-
| fessional detectives, and take some
much needed refreshments ourselves.
| Harper promised TO bring n full re-
port of proceedings rs soon as he had
concluded his Investigations to that
best of inns, the Hotel st AM, ine,
whittier we now directed our steps, en-
gagged rooms, and ordered breakfast,
calling on the way at the Office of an
English solicitor by direction of Harper.
Once again the salient points in the
story of Mary's abduction were de-
| tailed, and Mr.. Lcverett, the solicit
tor, was commissioned to obtain an in
terview with Plowitz, and see We're there
any practicable conditions on which he
would consent to aid in her restitution.
We had not finished our repast before
Mr.. Leverett returned.
81 am afraid" he said, "that there
is nothing to be hoped frem that man
at present, anyhow. He cynically
declares that there will be enough
charges against him to swamp any con-
siderations of elemency on the score Of
his revealing the lady's abode. And
the strongest point, and one on which
he seems to dwell with much unct on,
is that she was committed to his care
by her guardian, and that, till the
guardian, requires an account from
! him, no one has a scrap of right to in
terfere."
This was the same dismal tale over
again. We sat in silence, while a gusty
wind whirled the dead leaves round
outside the window of the salle-a-man-
ger, and the cathedral chimes changed
out chorus from Marta.
mo" continued Mr.. Leverett,
wrinking his forehead, and pursuing his
lips, as if to accompany the chimes
with silent whistle; ''nO; | don't see
what is to be done, unless you can get
hold of the guardian and bring pressure
to bear on PloWitz through him, and
meantime endeavour by all means to
trace and communicate with the lady
| herself"
THAT'S just what we are doing, "
said l.
And having arranged to report pro-
gress, and received hearty promise OF
Mr.. Leverett's utmost aid, Shaw and ]
were again left to our breakfast and
our reflections. Mine became intol-
erably anxious. Shaw, blessed with a
more phIegmatic temperament. and not
so deeply interested as / was, was able
to enjoy the quasi-tranquillity of a man
who feels that all that is possible under
the circumstance has been, or Is being,
done, and enjo ID some well earned re-
pose. ! W. 4dered about aimlessly.
now seeking to distract NJ mind with
a little sigh seeing, now with the
general obsery ltion of the streets of a